Heavy duty switch

ABSTRACT

A multipole heavy duty manually or remote control operated switch is constructed of individual pole units stacked side-byside. Each pole unit includes first and second molded insulating members joined side to side to form a housing having a chamber, and both stationay contacts and an arc chute are within said chamber. A so-called four-bar linkage connects the switch arms to a bail connected to a common operating mechanism. When the switch is open, the movable contact ends of the switch arms extend beyond the confines of the pole unit housings to provide a positive visual indication that the switch is open. Each switch arm is constructed of two abutting sheet metal members having oppositely extending formations providing contact areas and an area for making a mechanical connection to the operating bail.

United States Patent Zubaty [54] HEAVY DUTY SWITCH [72] Inventor: MartinV. Zubaty, Bellefontaine,

Ohio

[73] Assignee: ITE Imperial Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa.

[22] Filed: Jan. 8, 1971 [21 Appl. No.: 104,854

[is] 3,684,849 [4 1 Aug. 15, 1972 Primary Examiner-Robert K. SchaeferAssistant Examiner-Robert A; Vanderhye Attorney-Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb8L Sofien ABSTRACT A multipole heavy duty manually or remote controloperated switch is constructed of individual pole units stackedside-by-side. Each pole unit includes first and second molded insulatingmembers joined side to side to form a housing having a chamber, and bothstationay contacts and an arc chute are within said chamber. A so-calledfour-bar linkage connects the switch arms to a bail connected to acommon operating mechanism. When the switch is open, the movable contactends of the switch arms extend beyond the confines of the pole unithousings to provide a positive visual indication that the switch isopen. Each switch arm is constructed of two abutting sheet metal membershaving oppositely extending formations providing contact areas and anarea for making a mechanical connection to the operating bail.

11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAus 15 I972 SHEET 1 [IF 2 HEAVYDUTY SWITCH This invention relates to circuit interrupters in general,and more particularly relates to a compact heavy duty manually operatedswitch mechanism.

For many applications it is necessary that a switch connected in serieswith a fusebe of a relatively heavy duty rating in that the switch mustbe able to close on a circuit having 100,000 amperes r.m.s. or moreavailable current. It is desirable that such switches be of compactconstruction, and disconnect requirements are such that when the switchis in opened circuit position the movable contact arm or switch blademust permit a positive visual observation of the open circuit condition.

Accordingly, a primary object of the instant invention is to provide anovel construction for a heavy duty manually operated switch.

Anotherobject is to provide a novel construction for a multipole heavyduty switch, in which individual pole units are stacked side-by-side andconnected to a common operating bail.

Still another object is to provide a pole unit in which the movablecontact extends beyond the confines of the insulated housing when thepole unit is in open circuit conditions.

A further object is to provide a movable contact arm constructed of twosheet metal stampings having oppositely protruding formations.

A still further object is to provide a multipole switch mechanism, inwhich a common operating bail is pivoted at a point to the rear of thepivot for the pivoted contact arms, and a so-called fourbar linkage isused to transmit force from the operating bail to the contact arm.

These objects as well as other objects of this invention will becomereadily apparent after reading the following description of theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a three pole switch mechanism constructed inaccordance with teachings of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section taken through line 22 of FIG. 1, looking inthe direction of arrows 2-2.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the lever connecting the operating bail toa switch blade, such cross-section being taken through line 3-3 of FIG.2, looking in the direction of arrows 3-3.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section taken through line 44 of FIG. 3, looking inthe direction of arrows 44.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of the movable contact arm takenthrough line 55 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of arrows 55.

Now referring to the figures. Multipole switch of FIG. 1 comprises threeidentical pole units 11, 12, 13,

stacked side-by-side and connected to web l4-of common opera ting bail15, in a manner to be hereinafter explained. Frame 17 for a manuallycontrolled overcenter operating mechanism (not shown) of a type wellknown to the art abuts the right-hand wallof pole unit 13 (as seen inFIG. 1). Switch 10, including its operating mechanism, is mounted withinan enclosure, only the rear wall 28 of which is shown. Frame 17 isfixedly secured to rear wall 28 by screws 27, with the operatingmechanism handle extending beyond the confines of the enclosure, in amanner well known to the art.

Bolts l8, 19 extend transversely through pole units 11-13 and securethese elements to left wall 17a of frame 17. The free end of arm 16 ofbail 15 is pivotally secured by pin 20 to the frames left wall 17a andthe free end of the other bail arm is pivotally secured to support plate21, which is secured to the left side of switch mechanism 10 by boltsl8, 19. The head of screw 22 abuts the forward edge of plate 21 andledge 11a at the left side of pole unit 11 to hold switch mechanism 10against rear wall 28 of the enclosure. Similarly, ear 17b protrudes tothe left from wall 17a and engages ledge at the right side of pole unit13 to hold switch 10 against the rear wall 28, and further stabilize theposition of switch 10 in its enclosure. Since each of the pole units ll,12 and 13 is of identical construction, for the sake of brevity only theconstruction of pole unit 13 will be described in detail. Moreparticularly, pole unit 13 includes two molded insulating sheet-likemembers 31, 32 secured by rivets 29 in stacked face-to-face relationshipto form a housing. The confronting faces of housing parts 31, 32 areformed with appropriately shaped depressions to operatively position andretain the electrical elements of pole unit 13. The electrical paththrough pole unit 13 extends from line terminal wire grip 33, lineterminal strap 34, stationary contact 35, movable contact 36 at one endof switch or movable contact arm 37, stationary contact 38 engaged withthe other end of contact arm 37, to load terminal 39 having fuse clip 41mounted thereto to engage ferrule type terminal 42 at one end ofcartridge fuse 43.

As best seen in FIG. 5, switch arm 37 is constructed of identicalsymmetrical sheet metal stampings, having protrusions 36, 52 and 53.Rivets 54, 55 secure elements 46, 47 together in face-to-facerelationship, with their respective protrusions extending in oppositedirections. Pin 58 extends through the central apertures in protrusions53 to pivotally mount switch arm 37 between the arms of stationarycontact 38. U shaped spring 56 straddles stationary contact 38 urgingthe arms thereof to converge and exert contact pressure against switcharm 37. Similarly, U-shaped spring 57 straddles stationary contact 35,urging the arms thereof inwardly to make good electrical contact withmovable contact 36 positioned therebetween when switch arm 37 is in theclosed circuit position illustrated in phantom in FIG. 2. One end ofoperating lever 60 extends into the space between protrusions 52 ofmembers 46, 47 with rivet 61 pivotally connecting lever 60 to switch arm37 at the center thereof.

As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, lever 60 consists of steel arm 62 havingapertures 63, 64 at opposite ends thereof. Aperture 63 receives theshank of rivet 61. Arm 62 is an insert extending from molded insulator65. The latter is mounted at the end of member 62, having aperture 64,with insulator 65 forming an insulating bearing surrounding aperture 66through which web 14 of operating bail 15 extends. Thus, operating bail15 is electrically insulated from switch arm 37.

It is noted that stationary pivot 20 for bail 15 is parallel to andoffset from pivot 58 for movable contact arm 37, with the latter beingcloser to stationary contact 35 than the former. Pivots 20, 58 are thestationary pivots for the fourbar linkage through which motion istransmitted from the operating mechanism (not shown) to switch arm 37.Bail web 14 and rivet 61 constitute the movable pivots for this four-barlinkage. By utilization of such an arrangement, angular movement ofmovable contact 36 is multiplied over the angular movement of bail 15.

It is also noted that as contact arm 37 moves from closed to disconnector open circuit position, movable contact 36 moves through housingopening 70 and when pole unit 13 is open; movable contact 36 extendsbeyond the confines of housing 31, 32 so as to provide a positive visualindication that pole unit 13 is open. When pole unit 13 is closed,contact arm 37 is buried within housing 31, 32 and lever insulator 65extends into housing opening 70. During the opening stroke of contactarm 37, the path of movement of movable contact 36 in relation to arcchute 98 is such that the arc is extinguished inside chute 98 and is notdrawn outside of housing 31, 32.

The end of contact arm 37, in the region of movable contact 36, isdepressed with respect to the latter to act as an arcing horn or tip toprevent burn spots from forming at contact 36. Arcing tips of highmelting point material may be secured to the end of contact blade 37adjacent to contact 36, and a strong ceramic or other type permanentmagnet may be captured in the space between the protrusion formingcontact 36 to influence arc movement and act in conjunction with metalinserts 99 in arc chute 98 to promote extinguishing of electric currentarcs formed during circuit interruption.

It is further noted that bail 15 is not mounted directly to the switchenclosure as in prior art constructions.ln-

stead, bail 15 is mounted so as to be an integral part of switch 10,resulting in a more flexible utilization for switch 10 in that its useis not limited to an enclosure having a particular size and location forthe contact arm connected operating bail.

Although in the foregoing there have been described preferredembodiments of this novel invention, many variations and modificationswill now become apparent to those skilled in the art, and it istherefore preferred that this invention be limited not by the foregoingdisclosure but only by the appending claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilegeorproperty is claimed are defined as follows.

l. A multipole switch device comprising a plurality of individual poleunits stacked side-by-side; each of said pole units including first andsecond molded insulating members joined side to side in face to facerelationship to form a housing having a chamber therein; first andsecond stationary contacts within said chamber; an elongated switchblade, a first pivot pivotally mounting one end of said blade to saidfirst contact, with the other end of the blade being operable into andout of engagement with said second contact as said blade is pivotedabout said first pivot; an arc chute within said housing in the regionof said second contact; an operating mechanism operatively connected tothe blades of all of said pole units for simultaneous operation thereofto first and second positions; for each of said pole units said bladewhen in said first position being in engagement with said second contactand when in said second position said other end thereof being disengagedfrom said second contact and extending beyond the confines of saidhousing for visual observation that said pole unit is open.

2. A multipole switch device as set forth in claim 1 in which there isan operating bail interposed between the operating mechanism and theswitch blades of all of said pole units; a second pivot about which saidbail is moved by said operating mechanism; said first and second pivotsbeing parallel and laterally ofi'set with said first pivot being closerthan said second pivot to said second contact.

3. A multipole switch device as set forth in claim 1 in which each ofthe switch blades comprises first and second sheet-like members abuttingone another in a plane normal to said first pivot; said members havingoppositely directed formations extending parallel to said first axis;said formations being engaged by said stationary contacts.

4. A multipole switch device as set forth in claim 3 in which saidsheet-like members are substantially identical, with said formationsincluding like contact formations at each end of said blade and acentral formation between said contact formations.

5. A multipole switch device as set forth in claim 4 in which each ofsaid sheet-like members is symmetrical with respect to two axes ofsymmetry.

6. A multipole switch device as set forth in claim 2 in which each ofthe switch blades comprises first and second sheet-like members abuttingone another in a plane normal to said first pivot; said members havingoppositely directed formations extending parallel to said first axis;said formations being engaged by said stationary contacts; an individuallever interposed between said switch blades and said bail and pivotallyconnected to the latter; each of said levers being pivotally secured toits associated blade essentially at the center thereof and beingpositioned between the members of said associated blade.

7. A multipole switch device as set forth in claim 1 in which there isan operating bail interposed between the operating mechanism and theswitch blades; an individual metal lever interposed between each of saidblades and said bail; an individual insulating member interposed betweeneach of said levers and said bail; each of said insulating members beingformed by being molded directly on its associated lever.

8. A multipole switch device as set forth in claim 7 in which there is asecond pivot about which said bail is moved by said operating mechanism;said first and second pivots being parallel and laterally offset withsaid first pivot being closer than said second pivot to said secondcontact.

9. A multipole switch device as set forth in claim 2 in which there isan individual lever interposed between each of the switch blades and thebail; one end of said lever being pivotally connected to its associatedswitch blade at a point substantially midway between the ends thereof;the other end of said lever being pivotally connected to said bail.

10. A multipole switch device as set forth in claim 9 in which each ofthe switch blades comprises first and second sheet-like members abuttingone another in a plane normal to said first pivot; said members havingformations extending in opposite directions and parallel to said firstaxis; said formations being engaged by said stationary contacts; each ofsaid levers being positioned between the members constituting the bladeto which the particular lever is secured.

l l. A multipole switch device as set forth in claim 1, in which thereis an operating bail interposed between the operating mechanism and theswitch blades of said plurality of pole units; and means pivotallymounting the end of said bail remote from said switch blades 5 directlyto said plurality of pole units.

1. A multipole switch device comprising a plurality of individual poleunits stacked side-by-side; each of said pole units including first andsecond molded insulating members joined side to side in face to facerelationship to form a housing having a chamber therein; first andsecond stationary contacts within said chamber; an elongated switchblade, a first pivot pivotally mounting one end of said blade to saidfirst contact, with the other end of the blade being operable into andout of engagement with said second contact as said blade is pivotedabout said first pivot; an arc chute within said housing in the regionof said second contact; an operating mechanism operatively connected tothe blades of all of said pole units for simultaneous operation thereofto first and second positions; for each of said pole units said bladewhen in said first position being in engagement with said second contactand when in said second position said other end thereof being disengagedfrom said second contact and extending beyond the confines of saidhousing for visual observation that said pole unit is open.
 2. Amultipole switch device as set forth in claim 1 in which there is anoperating bail interposed between the operating mechanism and the switchblades of all of said pole units; a second pivot about which said bailis moved by said operating mechanism; said first and second pivots beingparallel and laterally offset with said first pivot being closer thansaid second pivot to said second contact.
 3. A multipole switch deviceas set forth in claim 1 in which each of the switch blades comprisesfirst and second sheet-like members abutting one anothEr in a planenormal to said first pivot; said members having oppositely directedformations extending parallel to said first axis; said formations beingengaged by said stationary contacts.
 4. A multipole switch device as setforth in claim 3 in which said sheet-like members are substantiallyidentical, with said formations including like contact formations ateach end of said blade and a central formation between said contactformations.
 5. A multipole switch device as set forth in claim 4 inwhich each of said sheet-like members is symmetrical with respect to twoaxes of symmetry.
 6. A multipole switch device as set forth in claim 2in which each of the switch blades comprises first and second sheet-likemembers abutting one another in a plane normal to said first pivot; saidmembers having oppositely directed formations extending parallel to saidfirst axis; said formations being engaged by said stationary contacts;an individual lever interposed between said switch blades and said bailand pivotally connected to the latter; each of said levers beingpivotally secured to its associated blade essentially at the centerthereof and being positioned between the members of said associatedblade.
 7. A multipole switch device as set forth in claim 1 in whichthere is an operating bail interposed between the operating mechanismand the switch blades; an individual metal lever interposed between eachof said blades and said bail; an individual insulating member interposedbetween each of said levers and said bail; each of said insulatingmembers being formed by being molded directly on its associated lever.8. A multipole switch device as set forth in claim 7 in which there is asecond pivot about which said bail is moved by said operating mechanism;said first and second pivots being parallel and laterally offset withsaid first pivot being closer than said second pivot to said secondcontact.
 9. A multipole switch device as set forth in claim 2 in whichthere is an individual lever interposed between each of the switchblades and the bail; one end of said lever being pivotally connected toits associated switch blade at a point substantially midway between theends thereof; the other end of said lever being pivotally connected tosaid bail.
 10. A multipole switch device as set forth in claim 9 inwhich each of the switch blades comprises first and second sheet-likemembers abutting one another in a plane normal to said first pivot; saidmembers having formations extending in opposite directions and parallelto said first axis; said formations being engaged by said stationarycontacts; each of said levers being positioned between the membersconstituting the blade to which the particular lever is secured.
 11. Amultipole switch device as set forth in claim 1, in which there is anoperating bail interposed between the operating mechanism and the switchblades of said plurality of pole units; and means pivotally mounting theend of said bail remote from said switch blades directly to saidplurality of pole units.